More front-drive BMWs imminent

BMW's all-new 2 Series Active Tourer is just the first of up to 12 front-wheel drive BMW models due by 2020, including next year's all-new X1 crossover, which is likely to spawn an X2 'SUV-coupe', the next-generation 1 Series range and potentially even the replacement for its lauded rear-drive 2 Series coupe.

Combined with at least 10 MINI models also sharing the new ‘UKL’ front/all-wheel drive architecture, the 22 models will account for up to 40 per cent of BMW Group production by 2020 – or about 800,000 of the two million vehicles it expects to sell by the end of this decade.

The first vehicle to be based on BMW's new global modular compact platform, which will be produced in at least four wheelbases is the third-generation MINI, while the first BMW is the 2 Series Active Tourer, which is now being launched in Europe and will arrive in Australia in November.

It will be followed by a 200mm-longer seven-seat version due to be launched internationally early in 2015.

Also due for release next year – and also based on UKL – is the second-generation X1, which will swap from rear/all-wheel drive and will emerge next June, and the third generation of BMW smallest model, the 1 Series, which is due in 2018 and will also lose its current rear-drive underpinnings.

Indeed, it seems the only hope for the retention of rear-wheel drive below the 3 Series is the second-generation 2 Series coupe and convertible, with a decision due this year for a model range that won’t go on sale until 2019.

The breadth and depth of BMW Group’s embrace of front-wheel drive was outlined to motoring.com.au by BMW executives at the international launch of the 2 Series Activity Tourer in Austria overnight.

“We use the same architecture (for X1) because it is in the range of size of the UKL architecture,” BMW 1 and 2 Series spokesperson Kai Lichte told motoring.com.au.

“Otherwise we would need a different architecture for smaller rear-wheel drive, which we don’t have. So for this reason we opted for the front-wheel drive.”

Lichte said the swap of the 1 Series from rear to front-wheel drive was driven by customer preferences: “They say they like the 1 Series but they do not have enough space.”

The potential retention of rear-wheel drive for the next-generation 2 Series is also being driven by its customer base, which values traditional BMW driving dynamics.

“That decision hasn’t been made now," said Lichte. "We have discussion about this right now, because reaction to the 2 Series was overwhelmingly positive and we just introduced those cars so we have time to make decision."

“So for the next 2 Series coupe the decision is not yet made. It will be several more months.”

Lichte confirmed the X2, a little brother to the style-focussed X4 and X6 crossovers, was under consideration for UKL: “That’s one of the cars we are flexible to decide. It has not yet been decided.”

However, a four-door coupe rival for the Mercedes-Benz CLA is not being considered “for the moment” Lichte said.

The only UKL MINIs to break cover so far are the three and five-door hatches.

BMW’s move from being a rear-wheel drive car-maker with some all-wheel drives is being driven by necessity; the more models spun off the same small-car platform, the more profitable MINI and BMW will be.

Also, the smaller and more fuel-efficient BMW makes its vehicles, the more likely it is to meet tough new CO2 restrictions being introduced in Europe, allowing it to continue to sell thirstier, bigger, rear and all-wheel drives such as the 3 and 5 Series and X3 and X5, which also have a greater profit margins.

The UKL architecture also allows more interior space to be created within a given body size compared to BMW’s rear-wheel drive small cars, which because of their longitudinal engines and prop shafts have always struggled to match FWD rivals.

Ultimately, BMW Group’s cost saving plan is to have all its cars based on either UKL or a larger rear/all-wheel drive architecture. The vast majority of its cars will be powered by a modular three, four and six-cylinder engine family.

UKL is a highly modular set of underpinnings that can be used for cars as short as 3.8 metres and up to 4.5 metres long.

BMW’s adoption of front-wheel drive and its plan for multiple models apes that of fierce rival Mercedes-Benz, which has produced the A-, B-, GLA- and CLA-Class from its MFA architecture. A CLA wagon is expected next, before a new generation of MFA spawns even more front-wheel drive variations for Benz.

Watch out for Australian pricing, specifications and our first drive of the 218d Active Tourer on Friday morning.